Morning Again

Did You Know?

• The band's first reunion show in 1999 was performed under the name Cleanest War.
• In 2026, Damien Moyal filled in for Kevin Byers on a European tour due to Byers' shoulder injury, and later that year Byers left the band.
• The band's 1997 EP Martyr was recorded before Joseph Simmons joined as second guitarist.
• Morning Again's final release before their 1998 breakup was the 7-inch To Die a Bitter Death on Immigrant Sun Records.

History

Morning Again formed in December 1995 after John Wylie, who had left Culture earlier that year, sought a band with more intense and personal views. Damien Moyal and Louie Long, both former Culture members, joined on vocals and drums, with Michael Wolz on second guitar and Eric Ervin on bass. The band recorded the EP The Cleanest War and sent it to Conquer the World Records, which agreed to release it. Promo tapes were made to promote the upcoming release.

After the mini-album came out, Intention Records asked John to release a 7-inch of new material. A compilation of all released material was then compiled for the European market through Good Life Recordings, making Morning Again the first American band on that Belgian label. Tensions between Moyal and Wylie resurfaced, and during one of the last shows with Moyal, Morning Again played with Ohio band Outcast. Byers and Wylie got along well, and Byers was asked to replace Moyal; within a week he moved to Cooper City as the new vocalist.

Ervin was replaced first by Christopher 'Floyd' Beckham, then by Peter Bartsocas. New songs were worked on for a split with Shoulder on Moo Cow Records. Wolz and Bartsocas left soon after, and after short-lived members, Jerry Villarroel became bassist. The band released another 7-inch, My Statement of Life in a Dying World, on Immigrant Sun Records as a four-piece.

Joseph Simmons joined as second guitarist after the sophomore Good Life release, Martyr, was recorded. Matt Thomas replaced Long, and Revelation Records signed the band, releasing As Tradition Dies Slowly in 1998. The final Good Life record was a split with 25 Ta Life, followed by a European tour. The group decided to break up by the end of the tour in fall 1998, partly due to Wylie's growing interest in pursuing Eulogy Recordings.

Their final release was To Die a Bitter Death on Immigrant Sun. In 2000, Wylie's label released a compilation of both Immigrant Sun Records 7-inches as The Fallen... The Few That Remain.